Liquid carbonating apparatus



March 11, 1958 L. E. PETERS LIQUID CARBONATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2"7, 1956 L HAND CONTROLLED TIME SW! 701'! MB M55 V/AI/ M INVENTOR. LESLIE E. PfTE/PS Filed Feb. 27. 1956 t 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HAND CONTROLLED INVENTOR. LESLIE E. PETERS yzmw ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 2,826,401 LIQUID CARBONATING APPARATUS Leslie E. Peters, Paynes Creek, Calif. Application February 27', 1956, Serial No. 568,000

3 Claims. (Cl..261--87)t This invention relates to the carbonating of liquids, and more particularly to novel apparatus for carbonating potable liquids.

The present invention provides liquid carbonating ap paratus used in preparing potable liquids for pleasurable consumption. More specifically, my improved liqurdcarbonating apparatus embodies a combined support and sealing head for a vessel. containing potable liqu1d, ai liquid agitator supported from thehe'ad' and disposed lu the vessel, a tubular drive shaft serving the dual purpose of effecting a driving connection between an. electric motor and the liquid agitator while at the same time con veying carbon dioxide or other suitable gas into the vessel from a source of supply and discharging it" into theliquid at the point where the agitator is located, and means for controlling the flow of such gas into the Vessel.

The primary object of my invention is to provide improved liquid carbonatingapparatus which is adapted for use in carbonating potable liquids of various kinds; suchapparatus being capable of carbonating individual'drinlcs as they are consumed or carbonating potable liquids for bottling.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the kind characterized, embodying means forautornatically controlling the carbonating processes so an adequate quantity of gas is admitted to the vessel for su1ta'bly' carbonating the potable liquid contained therein;

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter or' will be indicated: in the appended claims or will be obvious-to one skilled 1n the" art upon an understanding of the present disclosure; the purpose of this application, I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of liquid carbonating' apparatus which is representative ofmy invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of myinvention herein shownand described is for the purpose of illustration only and that therefore it is not to be re garded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken alonga vertical plane passing through the liquid carbonating apparatusembody ing my invention;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation, on a reduced scale, of the apparatus; N

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the sealing'means' associated with the gas inlet;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of liquid carbonizer embodying'my'invention;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a refrigerator showing my improved liquid carbonizer mounted on the refrigerator door; and

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the shaft connection.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a stationary head having a central opening, a depending outer circular flange 2 formed withdependingspaced lugs 3, an internally threadedcircular flange 4-, and an upstanding circular flange or housing 5- of substantially" For the same diameter as the inner circular flange 4. The depending lugs 3 have inwardly protruding pins 6 secured thereto which are adapted to enter bayonet slots 7 provided in the exterior surface of the. rim 8 of a metallic vessel 9. The vessel has a top openingwhichis. closed by the head 1 when the vessel is suitably turned after the rim 8 is inserted between the depending lugs 3 and the pins 6 are engaged in the bayonet slots. By means of the bayonet slots 7 and the inwardly protruding pins 6, the upper circular edge of the vesselis firmly clamped against a resilient gasket 9a seated inside the outer circular flange 2, thereby sealing the vesselv andpreventing the escape of pressurized gas therefrom. The outer circular depending flange 2 and the inner depending flange. 4 are preferably arranged in concentric relationship. The circular flanges 4 and 5 are arranged in vertical alignment.

Screwed into and firmly secured to the inner depending circular flange 4 is an elongated tubular bearing member 10 having. its upper end abutting a circular ring shaped hard fiber disc or washer 11 which is seated against a circular shoulder formed in the side walls of the central opening of the head 1. The interior or chainber 12 in the upstanding circular flange 5 is an extension of the central opening in the head 1, and such chamber is closed at its lower end by the fiber disc 11. and. atits upper end by a similar ring shaped hard fiber disc 13,. the latter resting against a shoulder formed along the inner surface of the flange 5. The upper end portion of the circular flange 5 is. interiorly threaded and screwed there-- in is a ring shaped metal disc bearing 14having peripheral threads which makes it possible to clamp the fiber disc 13' against its associated shoulder and thereby close the upper end of the chamber 12'.

Extending axially through the. discs 14, 13,11 and the tubular bearing member 10 is a shaft 15 which is operatively connected at its upper end to a drive shaft 16 of anelectric motor 17 by clutch discs 16a secured to the said shafts. Secured to the lower end of'th'e shaft 15 is a bladed agitator 18. The shaft 15 isformedwith an axial opening 1 5a which connects at its. upper end with an inlet opening 15b provided in the side of the shaft. The hub portion of the agitator 1-8 is formed with an outlet opening 18a which communicates with the axial opening 15a of the tubular shaft 15. A ball type. check valve 19 seating against a shoulder formed on the inner surface of the shaft 15 is urged by a spiral spring 20' against such seat, thereby closing the axial opening 15a when the downward presure of gas passing downwardly through the shaft 15 is not sufficient to overcome the upward pressure of the spring. The ball check valve operates to' close the axial opening in the tubular shaft when the flow of gas into the apparatus is discontinued, thereby preventing the pressure built up in the vessel 9 from forcing liquid in such vessel from passing upwardly through the shaft 15; The interior of the tubular bearing member 10' is enlarged to accommodate suitable packing' material 21 which extends around the shaft 15' and is held in place at its upper end by an adjustable screw'fitting' 22 and at its lower end by a shoulder formed on the inside surface of the shaft.

The shaft 15 is formed with a cylindrical enlargement 23 which is positioned in the chamber; 12, and. such enlargement is provided at its bottom side with an annular bearing surface or protuberance as at 23a which engages with the fiber disc 11 to prevent gas from escaping from the-lower end of such chamber. Slidably mounted in the chamber 12- on the shaft 15 and the cylindrical enlargement 23 is a hollow cylinder 24 which has an inlet opening 25 which allows gas to proceed from the chamber 12' in'tothe inlet opening 15b of the shaft 15. A spiral spring 26 exerts a slight pressure in opposite directions against the upper end of the hollow cylinder 24 and the cylindrical enlargement 23, such pressure being merely to hold the cylinder in a position whereby an annular protuberance or sealing ring 24a on its upper side engages lightly with the fiber disc 13 when there is no gas pressure in the interior of the hollow cylinder. The lower end portion of the hollow cylinder 24 is provided with vertical slots 24b which are adapted to slidably receive pins or protuberances 23c provided on the cylindrical enlargement 23, such protuberances and slots constituting connecting means for effecting the simultaneous rotation of the shaft and the cylinder, and at the same time making it possible for the cylinder to move up or down independently of the cylindrical enlargement.

Connected to the upstanding circular flange or housing is a pipe 26 which conveys suitable gas, such as carbon dioxide gas, from a source of supply to the chamber 12. Gas entering the chamber 12 proceeds into the interior of the hollow cylinder 24 through the inlet opening 25 and exerts sufiicicnt upward pressure on the upper end of the hollow cylinder 24 to move it upwardly to a position whereby its annular protuberance 24a engages with the fiber disc 13 and prevents gas from escaping between the shaft 15 and the adjacent sides of the axial opening in the said disc. The gas enters the inlet opening 15b, proceeds downwardly through the axial opening 15a in the shaft 15, unseats the ball check valve 19, and enters the vessel 9 through the outlet opening 18a in the agitator 18.

Connected to the pipe 26 is a valve 27 which is controlled by the reciprocable armature (not shown) of a solenoid 28, the latter being connected in the circuit supplying electrical energy to the electric motor 17. A hand operated time controlled switch 29 of the usual kind is also connected in the electrical circuit along with the solenoid, and the motor, such switch being capable of controlling the flow of electricity to the solenoid to effect the opening of the valve 27 at the same time the operation of the motor is commenced. After a predetermined time interval the switch closes and effects the de-energizing of the motor and solenoid and thereby closes the valve and shuts off the motor. Thus a predetermined amount of gas is automatically supplied to the vessel each time the hand controlled switch is adjusted to a closed position. Since the motor commences to operate simultaneously with the opening of the valve 27, the agitator 18 is rotated at the same time the gas flows into the vessel through the outlet opening 18a. By simultaneously operating the agitator as the gas enters the vessel, the liquid in the latter is effectively carbonized. The outlet 18a being located at the point where the greatest agitation takes place, causes the carbonization process to be completed satisfactorily in a short time, thereby increasing the etficiency of the apparatus.

An automatic relief valve 30, a pressure gauge 31 and a hand valve 32 are mounted on the head 1 and connected to the interior of the vessel in the usual manner.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another modification of my invention which embodies means for admitting gas through the bottom of the vessel. A base support 33 is provided with a gas inlet channel 34 which is connected to the line 26 leading to the source of CO supply. The gas is admitted through an inlet opening 35 into an axial opening provided in an upright shaft 36 which is connected at its lower end by clutch discs 16a to the shaft 16 of a motor 17. The upper end of the shaft 36 is formed with a pointed or rounded end which extends into and is connected to a hub member 37 of an agitator 18. The hub member is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the vessel 9, such hub member being provided with an outlet opening 18a which connects with the axial opening of the shaft 36. When the switch 29 is closed, the agitator 18 is rotated simultaneously with the admittance of gas to the vessel 9. The pressure of the incoming gas discharged into the vessel prevents the 4 liquid from escaping through the shaft 36, but if additional means is desired, a one-way valve of the usual kind may be arranged in either the shaft 36' or in the channel 34.

The vessel 9 is mounted on the base support 33 and is detachably secured thereto by suitable projections on the bottom of the vessel engaging with bayonet slots in the base support. A hand controlled faucet 38 permits the contents of the vessel to be dispensed when desired. The upper end of the vessel 9 is closed by a cover on top 39 which is clamped into sealing relation with the top edge of the vessel by means of protuberanccs 6 on the lugs 3 of the cover engaging with bayonet slots 7 of the rim 8 of the vessel.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my liquid carbonizer mounted on a refrigerator door 40 within an opening therein which is normally closed by a small hinged door 41.

What I claim is:

1. In liquid carbonating apparatus, a head having an axial chamber enclosing housing on its upper side and a depending peripheral flange, the housing having a bearing disc closing its upper side, an open vessel mounted on the flange and arranged with the head closing its opening, a depending tubular bearing member secured axially to the head, a tubular shaft mounted in the hearing member and arranged with an upper portion extending axially through the housing and the bearing disc and its lower portion projecting below the tubular hearing member, the said shaft having a cylindrical enlargement located inside the housing and also having an inlet opening located inside the housing and an outlet opening at its lower end, an agitator secured to the lower end of the shaft, a vertically adjustable cylinder mounted on the enlargement of the shaft and having an inlet in its side communicating with the inlet of the shaft and also the chamber, the cylinder having an annular scaling member engaging with the disc, spring means urging the cylinder upwardly whereby the sealing member is held in sealing engagement with the disc, an electric motor connected to the upper end of the shaft, 21 gas supply line connected to the chamber, a valve connected in the said line, a solenoid operatively connected to the valve, and a control switch connected in the circuit of the motor and the solenoid.

2. In liquid carbonating apparatus, a head having an axial housing on its upper side and a depending peripheral flange, a detachable liquid holding vessel mounted on the flange, a tubular shaft extending axially through the housing and the head and into the vessel, the shaft having a gas inlet opening located inside the housing and an outlet opening located inside the vessel, an agitator secured to the lower end of the shaft, a bearing disc closing the upper side of the housing and having an axial opening through which the shaft extends, a vertically adjustable hollow cylinder located in the housing and mounted for rotation with the shaft and having an inlet opening communicating with the inlet of the shaft and with a gas inlet in the housing, the cylinder having an annular sealing member on its upper side engaging with the bearing disc, spring means urging the cylinder upwardly, whereby the sealing member engages with the disc, and an electric motor connected to the upper end of the shaft.

3. In liquid carbonating apparatus, a head having an axial housing on its upper side and a depending peripheral flange, a detachable liquid holding vessel mounted on the flange, an upper sealing disc closing the upper side of the housing and having an axial opening, an elongated tubular bearing member secured axially to the head and extending into the vessel, the upper end of the bearing member closing the lower side of the housing, a lower sealing disc mounted on the upper end of the tubular bearing member and having an axial opening, a tubular shaft extending axially through the tubular bearing member, the housing and the sealing discs and into the vessel,

5 the shaft having a gas inlet located within the housing and an outlet located in the vessel beneath the tubular bearing member, an agitator secured to the lower end of the shaft, a cylindrical enlargement carried on that portion of the shaft located in the housing, such enlargement having an annular depending axial protuberance engaging with the lower sealing disc, a vertically adjustable hollow cylinder mounted on the enlargement of the shaft and rotatable with the shaft and having an annular axial protuberance on its upper side engaging with the upper sealing disc, spring means urging the cylinder upwardly, the gas inlet of the shaft being located in the hollow cylinder, a gas inlet in the housing, a gas inlet in the cylinder communicating with the gas inlets of the shaft and the housing, and an electric motor connected to the upper end of the shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

